Toggle-type switch for portable communications device

Abstract

A toggle-type switch for a portable communications device includes a circuit board to be positioned within a cavity of a portable communications device. In one instance, the circuit board includes a first flank, a second flank disposed opposite the first flank, and a central rib disposed between the first and the second flanks. The circuit board has a non-planar shape, such that the first flank and the second flank are each offset relative to the central rib. The toggle-type switch includes a first electrical contact element coupled to the first flank, a second electrical contact element coupled to the second flank, and a projecting lever located above the central rib and between the first flank and the second flank. The projecting lever has a first leg to engage the first electrical contact element and a second leg to engage the second electrical contact element.

We claim: 
     
       1. A toggle-type switch for a portable communications device, the toggle-type switch comprising:
 a circuit board configured to be positioned within a cavity defined by a housing of a portable communications device and including a first planar flank, a second planar flank disposed opposite the first flank, and a central rib disposed between the first flank and the second flank, wherein the first flank and the second flank are each angled relative to the central rib at non-zero angles such that circuit board overall has a non-planar shape; 
 a first electrical contact element coupled to the first flank; 
 a second electrical contact element coupled to the second flank; and 
 a projecting lever located above the central rib and between the first flank and the second flank and having a first leg configured to engage the first electrical contact element and a second leg configured to engage the second electrical contact element; 
 wherein the first and second planar flanks are each angled relative to the central rib such that the first planar flank faces the second planar flank. 
 
     
     
       2. The toggle-type switch of  claim 1 , wherein the projecting lever is configured to pivot between a first position where the first leg is in contact with the first electrical contact element and the second leg is out of contact with the second electrical contact element, and a second position where the second leg is in contact with the second electrical contact element and the first leg is out of contact with the first electrical contact element. 
     
     
       3. The toggle-type switch of  claim 2 , wherein the projecting lever is configured to pivot to a third position where the first leg is out of contact with the first electrical contact element and the second leg is out of contact with the second electrical contact element. 
     
     
       4. The toggle-type switch of  claim 1 , wherein the projecting lever includes a third, elongate, vertically-extending leg configured to be pressed directly by a finger to pivot the projecting lever, and wherein the third leg is disposed above each of the first and second legs. 
     
     
       5. The toggle-type switch of  claim 1 , wherein the first flank has a rectangular shape, and wherein the second flank has a rectangular shape. 
     
     
       6. The toggle-type switch of  claim 5 , wherein the central rib has a substantially rectangular shape. 
     
     
       7. The toggle-type switch of  claim 1 , wherein the first flank and the second flank have substantially identical shapes and sizes. 
     
     
       8. The toggle-type switch of  claim 1 , wherein the first flank is angled relative to the central rib at a first non-zero angle, and the second flank is angled relative to the central rib at a second non-zero angle. 
     
     
       9. The toggle-type switch of  claim 8 , wherein the first non-zero angle is equal to the second non-zero angle. 
     
     
       10. The portable communications device of  claim 1 , wherein the first planar flank is angled relative to the central rib at an angle of between 30 degrees and 70 degrees, and wherein the second planar flank is angled relative to the central rib at an angle of between 30 degrees and 70 degrees. 
     
     
       11. A portable communications device comprising:
 a housing having a front portion, a rear portion disposed opposite the front portion, and a side portion that extends between the front portion and the rear portion, wherein the side portion includes a cavity; and 
 a toggle-type switch having a circuit board positioned within the cavity, the circuit board including a first flank, a second flank disposed opposite the first flank, and a central rib disposed between the first flank and the second flank, wherein the circuit board has a non-planar shape, wherein the first flank of the circuit board and the second flank of the circuit board are each offset relative to the central rib of the circuit board, wherein the toggle-type switch further includes a first electrical contact element coupled to the first flank, a second electrical contact element coupled to the second flank, and a projecting lever located above the central rib and between the first flank and the second flank and having a first leg configured to engage the first electrical contact element and a second leg configured to engage the second electrical contact element 
 wherein the cavity is defined by a first inclined surface of the housing and a second inclined surface of the housing, wherein the first and second inclined surfaces of the housing are each planar surfaces that define a non-zero angle therebetween, wherein the first flank of the circuit board is coupled to the first inclined surface of the housing and the second flank of the circuit board is coupled to the second inclined surface of the housing. 
 
     
     
       12. The portable communications device of  claim 11 , wherein the first flank of the circuit board includes a first planar surface in contact with the first inclined surface of the housing, and wherein the second flank of the circuit board includes a second planar surface in contact with the second inclined surface of the housing. 
     
     
       13. A portable communications device comprising:
 a housing defining an outer casing for the portable communications device; 
 a flexible circuit board coupled to the housing, wherein the flexible circuit board has a non-linear cross-sectional profile; 
 a projecting lever operatively coupled to the housing and the flexible circuit board; 
 a first electrical contact element coupled to an inner surface of the flexible circuit board; and 
 a second electrical contact element coupled to the inner surface of the flexible circuit board, wherein the flexible circuit board has a C-shaped cross-sectional profile, such that the first electrical contact element faces the second electrical contact element, wherein the projecting lever is configured to pivot between the first electrical contact element and the second electrical contact element to perform a switch operation. 
 
     
     
       14. The portable communications device of  claim 13 , wherein the projecting lever is configured to pivot between a first position where the projecting lever is in contact with the first electrical contact element and out of contact with the second electrical contact element, and a second position where the projecting lever is in contact with the second electrical contact element and out of contact with the first electrical contact element. 
     
     
       15. The portable communications device of  claim 14 , wherein the projecting lever is configured to pivot to a third position where the projecting lever is out of contact with both the first electrical contact element and the second electrical contact element. 
     
     
       16. A portable communications device comprising:
 a housing defining an outer casing for the portable communications device; 
 a flexible circuit board coupled to the housing; 
 a first electrical contact element coupled to the flexible circuit board; 
 a second electrical contact element coupled to the flexible circuit board; and 
 a projecting lever coupled to the housing, wherein the projecting lever is configured to pivot between a first position where the projecting lever is in contact with the first electrical contact element and out of contact with the second electrical contact element, a second position where the projecting lever is in contact with the second electrical contact element and out of contact with the first electrical contact element, and a third position where the projecting lever is out of contact with both the first electrical contact element and the second electrical contact element; 
 wherein the flexible circuit board has a C-shaped cross-sectional profile, such that the first electrical contact element faces the second electrical contact element. 
 
     
     
       17. The portable communications device of  claim 16 , wherein the housing includes a front portion, a rear portion disposed opposite the front portion, and a side portion that extends between the front portion and the rear portion, wherein the side portion defines a cavity, and wherein the flexible circuit board is coupled to the housing within the cavity. 
     
     
       18. The portable communications device of  claim 16 , wherein the projecting lever includes a first leg configured to engage the first electrical contact element and a second leg configured to engage the second electrical contact element. 
     
     
       19. The portable communications device of  claim 17 , wherein the front portion includes a display.